Christmas will be even more special for Tusculum alumna as she celebrates 100th birthday

Birthdays are always special and develop additional meaning when they fall on a cherished holiday.

Tusculum University recently presented items to Ann Beeson Gouge in celebration of her 100th birthday.

This year, Ann Beeson Gouge’s birthday, which will take place on Christmas, carries even greater significance. The Johnson City resident will turn 100 years old.

A 1940 graduate of Tusculum College, which became Tusculum University in July, Gouge is a member of a prominent family at Tennessee’s oldest higher education institution. For her extended family at Tusculum and those who know her in the region, the occasion provides the opportunity to reflect on her accomplishments and the contributions of her relatives.

“We congratulate Ann for achieving this milestone and thank her for the way she has led a classy life that has reflected so positively on Tusculum and our region,” said Dr. James Hurley, the university’s president. “Ann left our campus as a student more than 75 years ago, but thankfully, she remains involved with Tusculum. She and her family continue to inspire us as we educate the next generation of leaders, and they will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Gouge, a widow with one child, Janet, is a granddaughter of Thomas Samuel Rankin, who earned three degrees there. He then developed deeper roots with his alma mater by teaching ancient languages for 45 years, serving as bursar and treasurer for 25 years and sitting on the Board of Trustees.

Tusculum recognized his commitment by naming a campus building Rankin Hall, which now houses the coaching and athletic administration offices.

Leadership by the Rankin family continued when one of Gouge’s uncles, Raymond, an alumnus, served as Tusculum’s president from 1951-65. Many other family members have attended Tusculum and earned degrees there. Tusculum’s institutional advancement team, now led by Jill Salyers, has collaborated with these alumni during their post-graduation years.

Gouge lived in Haynes Hall – enjoying the fireplace – as a Tusculum student and worked in the library and as a waitress in the cafeteria. She graduated with an English degree and a minor in music.

“A funny memory from that time was one of the student waitresses in the cafeteria was real character,” Gouge said. “Also, a friend didn’t like a dessert one time and tossed it harder than intended, causing it to stick to the ceiling.”

And how did Gouge spend her spare time while she was a student?

“We talked about the boys,” she said with a chuckle. “We also went swimming in the pool.”

Gouge’s mother, Elma, graduated with a degree in music from Tusculum in 1909 and later taught that subject at East Tennessee Normal School, which subsequently changed its name to East Tennessee State University. She soon became known as an outstanding piano teacher and vocalist in Johnson City and shared her love of music with her children. Her husband, D.R. Beeson Sr., played banjo in the Glee Club and entertained his Boy Scout troop.

All of the children – Gouge, Mary Beeson Ellison, Betty Beeson Helms and D.R. Beeson Jr. – learned to play the piano, and when they were young, they traveled around the area as the Beeson Family Orchestra. When she was a student at Tusculum, Gouge was involved in the small orchestra conducted by her sister, Mary.

In addition, Gouge played flute in the orchestra when she studied at ETSU to receive her teaching certification. She was asked to participate after a male friend introduced her to the music director there.

Ann Gouge, right, and fellow 1940 Tusculum graduate Margaret Gaut pose outside the Scott M. Niswonger Commons on the Tusculum campus in Greeneville.

Music has been a major part of Gouge’s adult life, too. She played the flute, piano, violin and viola and was a founding member of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, for which she played for 40 years. She also performed at special events at Tusculum, at fashion shows and in churches. She taught string instruments in the Johnson City school system and wrote “The Carolina Choo Choo Train” for the Tweetsie Railroad, which the company used for a long time.

As for her siblings, Ellison graduated from Tusculum in 1937 and then earned a master’s degree at Eastman School of Music and a doctorate in music from the University of Miami. Helms received a degree in music theory from Eastman School of Music. Besides the piano, Beeson Jr. played the flute.

Many longtime Johnson City residents will recall Beeson Sr. and Beeson Jr. for their many years as distinguished architects. Their last name is listed first in the Beeson, Lusk and Street firm.

Three Tusculum admission team members make presentations at state conference in Knoxville

Tusculum awards degrees to about 300 students in first graduation ceremony as a university

Laurie Smith experiences life fully as a married mother of two busy teenage sons and a kindergarten teacher at Cedar Bluff Elementary School in Knoxville.

Laurie Smith, valedictorian during Saturday’s graduation ceremony, delivers her remarks.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, she added another distinction to her portfolio: a Master of Arts in education with a curriculum and instruction concentration from Tusculum University. It is the second degree she has earned from Tusculum, the first being a Bachelor of Arts in education with a kindergarten through sixth grade concentration.

Serving as valedictorian, Smith was one of about 300 students to receive a degree during Tusculum’s jubilant fall graduation ceremony Saturday, Dec. 15, at Pioneer Arena in the Scott M. Niswonger Commons. This class was the first to participate in such an event since Tusculum converted from college to university status in July.

The ceremony brought smiles and cheers in abundance, with many students posting special messages on their caps. The event even featured a selfie taken from the stage with the audience in the background. At the conclusion, professors and members of Tusculum’s executive cabinet formed lines to applaud the graduates as they left the arena.

As she discussed securing a master’s degree in her 40s and the accomplishments of her classmates, Smith summarized their quest in one word — perseverance.

“Some of us are just beginning our next chapter while others of us are several chapter into the book of life,” Smith said. “We have different experiences and viewpoints depending on the stage we are in. What ties us all together is perseverance.”

Smith said this attribute is evident in a person’s actions.

“Perseverance gives us the prodigious feeling of accomplishment of our goals and the feeling each of us has right now as we reflect on how hard we worked to arrive at this point in our lives,” she said. “Real life will not be easy. There will be obstacles, and there will be failures. But perseverance will help us find a way around those obstacles. When we walk out these doors, I implore you to keep your growth mindset and perseverance. They will serve you well in life and help you to accomplish all of your goals.”

After completing her undergraduate degree on Tusculum’s Knoxville campus, Smith began her teaching career. She wanted to finish her master’s degree earlier, but this academic step continued to be postponed until she received help with her work load. Her husband calls her a driven person, so she eventually proceeded with her master’s degree through Tusculum’s online program.

Smith said the master’s degree will enable her to pursue an academic coaching or lead teacher position if she decides to change her career focus. Joshua Johnson, who was salutatorian for Saturday’s ceremony and earned an online master’s in talent development, said this degree will strengthen his skills in his job as coordinator of county and state scholarships at Northeast State Community College.

Joshua Johnson, salutatorian during Saturday’s graduation ceremony, delivers his remarks.

“I like to be in a leadership role with students, where I can be impactful, and I hope I can continue somewhere along those lines,” he said. “The master’s program has taught me not only about leadership but actually about developing talent within my field. The great thing about Tusculum’s master’s program was it was designed to support what I was already doing, and that’s why it was such an easy choice.”

Johnson, who lives in Piney Flats, said he had an exceptional experience at Tusculum.

“Everyone here — the faculty and staff — has been so supportive of me that it’s actually made the process of receiving my degree easier,” he said.

On the undergraduate level, Patrick Jones, who took his classes on the Greeneville campus, received a biology degree with an environmental science focus. He said Dr. Connor Keitzer and David Frazier were particularly helpful to him.

“I had a lot of fun here, especially exploring the Appalachian Mountains as part of my degree,” he said. “We’re right next to the Appalachians, and that’s one of the biodiverse wonders of the world. There was also a lot of one-on-one interaction with the teachers here. I could develop more of a personal relationship here with the teachers, and that made my studies go more easily.”

Addressing the graduates, Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum’s president, highlighted how this was the first graduation ceremony as a university. But he reminded the audience about Tusculum’s stature as Tennessee’s first institution of higher education, having been founded in 1794, as well as its Presbyterian roots.

Other examples of Tusculum’s leadership are:

  • In 1806, it was the first university in the state to educate an African-American student, John Gloucester, who subsequently founded First African Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.
  • In 1878, it was the first Presbyterian university in the country to admit female students.
  • In 1984, it became the first university in East Tennessee to develop degree programs designed for working adults, paving the way for students such as Smith and Johnson.

“In addition to these firsts, today Tusculum is an institution of choice for first-generation university students,” Dr. Hurley said. “Many of you participating today are the first in your families to attend college or a university, let alone to graduate from a college or university. I’m so very proud of you. I, too, am a first-generation graduate. Regardless how long your journey has taken you, today is that culmination. Today, you will transform from a university student to a university graduate, and we are here to celebrate you.”

Tusculum awarded more than 130 bachelor’s degrees, about 160 master’s degrees and six associate’s degrees to local, national and international students.

A few additional facts about this graduating class are:

  • The average age is 31.6, with students ranging from 18 to 57.
  • Students come from 12 states and nine countries
  • Eighty-seven percent of the students come from Central Appalachia.
  • Females account for 65 percent of the students.

In addition to the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Tusculum awarded emeritae degrees to two individuals. One is Dr. DiAnn Casteel, a retired education professor, who led the effort to change the Master of Arts in education program to fully online, where enrollment has steadily increased. The other is Dr. Melinda Dukes, who has been a model of the knowledge, values and character central to Tusculum’s civic arts mission.

Tusculum also presented Dr. Angela Keaton the Outstanding Service to Students Award and Dr. Paul Fox Jr. the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award.

For more information about some of Tusculum’s graduates, please view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9vd0o5qSag. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.

Tusculum University celebrates students during finals week with President’s Midnight Breakfast

Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum University’s president, cooks pancakes during the President’s Midnight Breakfast.

As the end of the fall semester nears, Tusculum University students are poring over their notes, reviewing their text books and working intently on their computers to obtain the best grades possible in their courses.

Final exams are in full swing at Tusculum’s three locations in East Tennessee. It’s an important time of academic year for students as they progress toward graduation. Naturally, the stress level might be at a high level for some.

Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum’s president, recognized students might need an opportunity to decompress during this period. He called a time out for them to have some fun at a time of day when many students still have plenty of energy. He hosted the President’s Midnight Breakfast, which started at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, and lasted an hour in the university’s cafeteria.

“Our students dedicate an incredible amount of time during the semester and throughout their enrollment at Tusculum to achieve excellent results with their grades,” Dr. Hurley said. “They are also outstanding representatives of our university and embrace our civic arts focus as part of their studies. The breakfast is a great way to celebrate them for their vibrancy and intellect and thank them for helping Tusculum be a first-choice university.”

Dr. Hurley did not merely host the breakfast. He was busy in the kitchen, demonstrating his fine culinary skills by making delicious batches of pancakes. Joining him were members of his executive cabinet and other staff members, who showcased their cooking and serving talent.

When the doors opened, students filled the cafeteria and lined up to pick from a menu of pancakes, bacon, eggs and sausage. The first in line was Sarah Jean White, who said she attended because the food is delicious and she thought the event would be enjoyable. She had her photo taken with Dr. Hurley and was pleased she had a chance to speak with him.

She and John Bivens, who is graduating Saturday, believe the late-night breakfast is a good activity.

“I feel like the way that they do this, it really shows that they support the students,” Bivens said of administrators. “Throughout the whole semester, we work so hard and we put so much effort in and spend all those late nights. It’s these kinds of things that they put on that make it all seem like it’s all worth it – like what we’re doing is really being appreciated.”

The lighthearted atmosphere in the cafeteria gave Dr. Hurley, the cabinet and other staff members another way to connect with the students. As Tusculum’s president, Dr. Hurley has paid considerable attention to the students’ needs and speaks with them regularly.

Cabinet, faculty and staff members also interact with the students and inspire them to achieve their career ambitions.

“Our students will be leaders in the community and will positively impact people’s lives when they graduate,” Dr. Hurley said. “Their final exams are designed to prepare them for this eventual role, and we are confident they will move our region and nation forward. We are proud of them and look forward to their contributions as students and in the next phase of their lives.”

Inclement Weather Information for Faculty

Weather forecasts are calling for significant winter weather for our area on Sunday, December 9th into Monday December, 10th.

Our final exam schedule begins on Tuesday, December 11th.  Should the weather require that the campus is closed and in order to keep our exam schedule on track, please make alternative plans to administer the final exam for your course as scheduled and communicate the plans with students.

Options may include, posting the exam on your course Moodle site, electronic submissions via email, or other methods appropriate for your particular course.

This will hopefully minimize the impact on students and help us keep our end of semester tasks on track.  Commencement will occur as scheduled.

Thank you for all you do and for taking these steps to help our students complete coursework on time.

Tusculum University’s College of Business earns accreditation, spurring growth opportunities

Tusculum University’s dynamic and growing College of Business, which has provided a high-caliber education experience for undergraduate and graduate students, has advanced to the next stage in its development with the receipt of accreditation.

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs recently awarded the designation to the College of Business. This achievement follows about two years of extensive work by faculty members and university leaders and a site visit by the accrediting agency in September.

College of Businesses students who graduate in December and all others in coming years will be able to refer to the accreditation on their resumé.

“Tusculum University’s College of Business will serve as a major change agent to our local and regional economy,” said Dr. James Hurley, the university’s president. “We are focused on training our graduates to contribute in the ever-changing global business environment. This accreditation will represent an additional layer of quality for the College of Business and will further showcase why Tusculum is a first-choice destination for students entering this field of study.”

Dr. Jacob Fait, the College of Business’ dean, said accreditation will help Tusculum expand its regional presence to a global one. He said students who are considering Tusculum, as well as their parents, will have even more confidence in the College of Business now that it has attained accreditation. They will see that the College of Business’ core components are verified to meet the rigorous standards of this accrediting agency.

Many people were aware the College of Business was engaged in the accreditation process and were inquiring about the status, he said. Now, Dr. Fait can happily report the College of Business has achieved this higher plain, providing additional incentive for students to select Tusculum.

Dr. Fait noted all of Tusculum’s programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“This newest accreditation is one more feather in the cap for the College of Business and shows we are going above and beyond, both for our faculty and for our students,” Dr. Fait said. “It gives additional credibility to our College of Business and more value to each of our graduates. When employers look at a resumé and they see Tusculum University College of Business ACBSP-accredited, they know we hold ourselves to a higher standard. So in terms of career goals and career achievement, our graduates are one step up.”

Dr. Fait complimented faculty members, saying they led the accreditation process. One of the professors who helped drive it was Dr. Antônio Bós, who has taught at Tusculum for 27 years and was thrilled to learn about the successful initiative.

As the College of Business worked on the accreditation application, it made appropriate changes to meet the agency’s criteria. Dr. Bós said one revision was to require all undergraduate business majors to take marketing and internal business classes. He also said the College of Business contemplated student outcomes and the best way to measure them and to use that information to produce better results.

“This accreditation reflects our commitment to run the College of Business in a very professional and effective manner,” Dr. Bós said. “We have established a plan that is strategic and will remain with us even if some of the personnel change over time. I am very glad we are in this position and am confident it will have long-term benefits for the College of Business.”

Dr. Bós said accreditation could enhance not only the recruitment of students but also faculty members. He said professors who are considering Tusculum as the next step in their careers will recognize the university has a clear and understandable focus on quality.

This designation continues the momentum the College of Business is experiencing. Tusculum is about to embark on the complete renovation of Tredway Hall, one of the campus’ older buildings, so it can become the home of the College of Business and the College of Education. It will enable the College of Business to consolidate its classes and offices into one building and include state-of-the-art technology.

In addition, the College of Business plans to develop a corporate partnership program as well as some graduate certificates in certain fields.

“This is an exciting period for the College of Business, and we are ecstatic about the impressive growth we are experiencing,” Dr. Fait said. “We will continue to look for new and innovative approaches that will ensure we remain on the cutting edge of business education. With a dedicated faculty and strong leadership from our administration, we are poised for continued success that will benefit our students and alumni and their employers.”

The College of Business has 14 faculty members and 510 students and offers traditional on-campus undergraduate classes and adult and online courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Graduates can earn a Bachelor of Science in business administration, a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and a Master of Business Administration. The Bachelor of Arts degree has concentrations in management, economics, marketing, accounting, information technology and entrepreneurship.

Tusculum University, Elizabethton High School reach agreement to guarantee admission of students

Students participating in a program at Elizabethton High School that focuses on experiential, project-based learning will have an opportunity for guaranteed admission to Tusculum University through an agreement reached between the academic institutions.

Leaders of Tusculum and EHS signed the agreement during a ceremony Thursday, Nov. 29, at the high school. This initiative represents another important link between the Greeneville-based university and local students seeking to further their education. It also provides an opportunity for students enrolled in the Bartleby program to further their academic success at a premier higher education institution.

Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum University’s president, second from left, and Terry Smith, director of the Bartleby program, far right, sign the agreement as, left to right, Josh Boatman, Elizabethton High School’s principal; Dr. Corey Gardenhour, director of Elizabethton City Schools; and Dr. Paul Pinckley, Tusculum’s vice president of enrollment management and financial aid, observe.

“Tusculum has enjoyed a proud and longtime connection with school systems throughout Northeast Tennessee and is pleased to take this next step with Bartleby and Elizabethton High,” said Dr. James Hurley, the university’s president. “These students have invested their time wisely in Bartleby and will be excellent additions to our university. We welcome them with open arms and know they will benefit from the cutting-edge and expanding academic programs at Tusculum.”

Classified as an XQ Super School, EHS began the Bartleby program as a pilot in the 2017-18 academic year with the receipt of a $200,000 grant from the XQ Institute. That year, the school initiated a community improvement class and an entrepreneurship class that resulted in 14 projects and five new businesses. The program has grown considerably in its second year. The Bartleby program has grown considerably in its second year – even earning the school a $2.3 million grant. It was recently one of only four school programs in the country to be invited by the U.S. Congress to speak on Capitol Hill in Washington about the future of American education.

“The additional skills that our students have fostered through their work with Bartleby have enhanced the caliber of their education and have helped further prepare them for success at a university or college,” said Josh Boatman, EHS’ principal. “We’re now excited to partner with Tusculum so that students from EHS can explore admission to a university that has been a pillar of higher education and is advancing the quality of its academic programs even further.”

Tusculum and EHS have agreed that students who are active in the program and receive a Bartleby Diploma Seal upon graduation will be offered guaranteed admission to the university. Plus, Tusculum has agreed to waive application fees, essay requirements and reference letters for students who submit a completed Bartleby portfolio.

By submitting the portfolio with their application, these students will be eligible to receive an additional Tusculum scholarship besides any academic scholarships they have already earned. This extra scholarship amounts to $1,000 for students who live on campus and $500 for commuters as long as they meet the criteria, such as having at least a 3.0 grade-point average and a 21 on the ACT or the equivalent on another entrance exam.

The scholarship is renewable each year as long as the student maintains at least a 3.0 GPA and remains in good standing with Tusculum.

The university will also collaborate with the Bartleby director and EHS instructors to provide speakers for the program from Tusculum. EHS teachers will also be able to attend Tusculum’s professional development events, and the university might invite these faculty members to make presentations about the school’s teaching methods.

“We have developed an outstanding program, and our students will be well prepared for college when they graduate,” said Terry Smith, Bartleby’s director. “As these students consider their options for continuing their education, it’s excellent knowing they will have a clear path to admission at Tusculum as long as they follow the guidelines. This is reassuring to students who are seeking to remain in the area for the next phase of their academic career and want to attend an exceptional university.”

This year, EHS has added new enrichment courses that students and teachers have requested, schoolwide project-based learning initiatives, teacher project-based training and many new technological resources.

EHS has also established integrated coursework between some English III and U.S. History classes and a Bartleby Cyclone Experience course for all ninth grade students that focuses on their personal self-development to prepare them to have outstanding high school careers. And it has expanded the Bartleby Community Improvement and Entrepreneurship classes and is working to create senior capstone courses for every senior and a new pathway to earning the Bartleby Diploma Seal.

In addition, the school is developing seven rooms throughout the high school that include:

  • An improved commons area with presentation technology
  • A television studio
  • Makerspace
  • A performing arts space
  • An outdoor classroom
  • A virtual reality lab
  • A project collaboration area

To help the students further, Tusculum and EHS are encouraging students to begin accumulating college credit while they are still in high school. EHS students will have the opportunity to attend classes on the Tusculum campus in Greeneville or take online courses.

The university will allow the students to participate in the Tusculum Early Post-Secondary Opportunities program for free.

“Our agreement is a perfect fit for Tusculum and EHS’ Bartleby Program because both have a deep commitment to the communities they serve and teach their students the value of civic engagement,” said Dr. Paul Pinckley, the university’s vice president of enrollment management and financial aid. “Bartleby is a strong program, and their students will have a fantastic educational experience with our first-rate faculty and staff who are focused on moving Tusculum forward to the next level of excellence. We’re also thrilled to be able to expand our relationship with the EHS faculty as we share best practices with each other.”

For more information about Tusculum, please visit www.tusculum.edu. To learn more about Bartleby and EHS, please visit www.ecschools.net.

Tusculum School of Nursing graduates achieve 85 percent first-time pass rate on national exam

Recent test results for graduates and program enhancements by faculty and administrators are advancing the quality of Tusculum University’s School of Nursing.

Tusculum’s 2018 Bachelor of Science in nursing graduates have achieved an 85 percent first-time pass rate, an increase from previous years, on the rigorous National Council Licensure Examination. The overall pass rate, which includes first- and second-time test takers, is 92.6 percent. Nursing graduates who attain the needed scores on the exam earn the designation of registered nurse and are eligible for employment as a professional nurse.

Dr. Lori Anderson, the nursing school’s dean, attributed the percentages to the backing the university provides and the students’ commitment to achieve success on the exam.

“I hear comments all the time about the extra support from Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, whether it was initiating a review course or ensuring faculty members were helping the students as much as possible,” Dr. Anderson said, referring to Tusculum’s executive vice president of the College of Health Sciences. “That reinforcement gave the students more confidence when they took the exam and made a tremendous difference in their ability to pass their boards.”

Dr. Buzzelli credits the students and faculty, saying they have taken additional ownership of the nursing program. He said they recognized Dr. Anderson’s arrival as the new dean was an opportunity to take the nursing school to the next level and were motivated to contribute to this new era.

“Our president, Dr. James Hurley, demonstrated his leadership by authorizing the hiring of Dr. Anderson as our new nursing school dean,” Dr. Buzzelli said. “He also committed to allocating necessary financial resources to provide additional instructional aid for the students. With those funds, we brought in a team that specializes in preparing nurses for the national exam.”

Dr. Buzzelli said the nursing exam results bode well for Tusculum’s application for accreditation of the Niswonger College of Optometry. It also builds further momentum for the university’s new College of Health Sciences, he said.

Reflecting on the nursing school, Dr. Buzzelli and Dr. Anderson describe considerable energy among the students and faculty. Dr. Buzzelli said the nursing school was fortunate to hire a dean of Dr. Anderson’s caliber and noted that faculty members have thrived under a shared governance model she has enacted.

For her part, Dr. Anderson said one reason she accepted the position was the desire by everyone within the college to see the nursing program move forward. She highlighted how some faculty members have created a new program called Meaningful Mondays, where they spend time with students after class to enhance learning and share test-taking strategies. She said Tusculum benefits from having small student-faculty ratios, which allows for more one-on-one interaction.

“It’s impressive and enjoyable to watch faculty members have discussions about opportunities to create the best learning environment for the students,” Dr. Anderson said. “They have wonderful ideas that will benefit the students greatly. I’m also working with the students, and that’s been a terrific experience, too.”

Having achieved improvement on the national exam, Dr. Buzzelli and Dr. Anderson are setting their sights on even better results. Dr. Anderson and faculty members have decided they will set aside two hours a week of independent study in the spring for seniors that will prepare students in greater depth to take the test.

In another positive development, one of the nursing school’s book companies has donated an electronic review course for the students.

“We will continue raising the bar until we achieve an ongoing 100 percent pass rate at Tusculum University,” Dr. Buzzelli said. “I am confident we will accomplish this goal because of the relentless efforts of our faculty and students and their desire to have a first-class nursing school.”

Tusculum University Community Chorus holding free Christmas concert

With the Christmas season now in full swing, many people are enjoying the music that highlights the beauty and wonder of this time of year.

The Tusculum University Community Chorus will contribute to the holiday spirit with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3. The event will be held in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Theater on Tusculum’s Greeneville campus.

Conducted by Kathryn May, the concert will provide an opportunity for people to relax and hear some classic Christmas songs and other seasonal selections that will bring joy to the audience as Christ’s birth approaches. Among the songs that will be performed are:

  • “Silent Night”
  • “The Heavens are Telling from Creation”
  • “Days of Beauty”
  • “Hacia Belen Va Una Burra”
  • “O, Come All Ye Faithful”
  • “The 12 Days of Christmas”

“Our chorus is excited about sharing this evening of uplifting music with members of the Tusculum University family and the community,” May said. “We look forward to this concert every year and know it will help the audience appreciate what Christmas means for all of us.”

The concert is free. All seats are general admission.

For more information, please call TU Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620.

Tusculum enhancing campus holiday experience with Progressive Tour before Christmas Concert

Tusculum University will capture the joy of the holiday season with an engaging Progressive Tour on campus that will deliver a wonderful historical experience for participants at Tennessee’s oldest higher education institution.

The university is hosting the festive “Follow Me through Tusculum’s Past” Thursday, Dec. 6, starting at 5:15 p.m. and concluding at 7 p.m. It will be immediately followed by the highly anticipated annual Christmas Concert performed in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center by the Tusculum Band, which includes the handbell choir, the jazz band and the concert band.

All activities are free and open to Tusculum’s faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as community members. Children are welcome.

“We’re thrilled to offer our Progressive Tour, which will enable participants to enjoy the campus in a new and exciting way,” said Jill Salyers, Tusculum’s vice president of institutional advancement and marketing & communications. “This is such a meaningful time of year as we await Christ’s birth, and our Progressive Tour will bring additional fulfillment to people’s holiday experience.”

The event begins at Annie Hogan, where guests will be greeted by carolers dressed in period costume inside and outside the building. Inside, visitors can enjoy delicious finger foods.

Guests will then proceed to Virginia Hall, where Dr. Madison Sowell, Tusculum’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, will read “Christ Comes.” This inspiring Christmas message was first read at a Christmas service Dec. 12, 1954, on the Tusculum campus.

Next, participants will move to McCormick Hall, where Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum’s president, will discuss the history of celebrating Christmas at Tusculum. Afterward, guests will head to the Thomas J. Garland Library, where they can view decorations and see displays of gingerbread houses created by Tusculum students.

The final stop on the Progressive Tour will be the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library, otherwise known as the Old College. Along the way, students will provide popcorn to guests. Once participants arrive, they will be able to visit and take pictures with Santa Claus and receive a treat.

Guests will conclude the Progressive Tour by returning to Annie Hogan, where they can have hot chocolate and hot cider before the concert begins.

The concert, directed by David Price, will include a large selection of songs, split among performances by the concert band, handbell choir and jazz band. Songs include “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Good Christian Friends Rejoice,” “A Child is Born,” “Deck the Halls with All Kinds of Funky,” “So They Say It’s Christmas” and “The Bells of Christmas.”

In addition to music, the concert will include narrations from the book “The Year of The Perfect Christmas Tree.”

For more information about the Progressive Tour, please call Nicole Rader, Tusculum’s director of alumni engagement, at 423-636-7303 or email nrader@tusculum.edu. To learn more about the concert, please call David Price, Tusculum’s director of music programs, at 423-636-0550 or email daprice@tusculum.edu.

Tusculum Alumnus honored by Kingsport Chamber of Commerce

We are pleased to share Larry Estepp, an alumnus of Tusculum University and a former longtime member of the institution’s Board of Trustees, has earned the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Member Award.

The prestigious award goes to an individual who has made an enormous contribution to the chamber and the community throughout his or her life.

Estep serves as president of Citizens Bank in the Tri-Cities and has distinguished himself throughout his career. Prior to joining Citizens Bank as executive vice president for commercial lending, he provided stellar leadership as a regional president for First Tennessee Bank.

Tusculum benefited from his business acumen during his 12 years on the Board of Trustees. He also received a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from the university.

“We congratulate Larry on this well-deserved honor and wholeheartedly endorse his selection,” said Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum’s president. “He contributed significantly to Tusculum’s continuing development as a premier academic institution, and we will always be grateful for his service to our university.”

Tusculum chemistry and biology students begin new undergraduate research program

Annie McCullough, left, and Pau Peiró Vila, who are junior chemistry majors, perform research at Tusculum University.

Undergraduate chemistry and biology students at Tusculum University are exploring new frontiers typically associated with the masters and doctoral levels that might present solutions to varied subjects impacting the world.

This semester, Tusculum‘s natural sciences department kicked off a more formalized research program, which prepares students for further studies at advanced stages of their academic and professional careers. The inaugural group consists of three chemistry majors and two biology majors who are putting their knowledge and talent to work in the Meen Center’s research labs.

The topics being explored are renewable energy and cancer. Specifically, the group is looking into designing and making new materials for solar energy conversion and new drugs for chemotherapeutic applications.

“We have developed this program to prepare students fully to enter a comprehensive research program at the masters and doctoral levels or to pursue a career in industry immediately after graduation from Tusculum,” said Dr. Dennis Ashford, an assistant professor of chemistry at the university. “We are training them to develop critical thinking skills and presentation capabilities and to become independent scientists. This is an excellent opportunity for the students, and we are thrilled to be able to incorporate it in our offerings.”

Recently, the natural sciences department earned a $5,000 grant from the East Tennessee Foundation to pay for supplies, such as chemicals and instrumentation, for the undergraduate researchers. Dr. Ashford said he has submitted another grant application and is looking for others that will empower Tusculum to grow the research program.

Tusculum’s involvement will be ongoing, with the initial group of students handing off their work to their successors. Dr. Ashford said the department wants students to present their results at regional and national conferences and to publish in peer-reviewed professional journals.

“We are seeking to increase the knowledge base in renewable energy and cancer research with our audiences,” he said. “We are, of course, also hopeful our students’ work will lead to breakthroughs in these areas and any others we study in the future. It’s impressive to imagine research that originated at Tusculum could influence the health and well-being of our fellow humans.”

The research program enables students to learn chemistry and biology concepts in class and then experience them firsthand in the research lab. Annie McCullough and Pau Peiró Vila, who are junior chemistry majors, said the program will give students an advantage when they apply for graduate schools and jobs because they will be able to highlight their experience with chemicals, lab equipment and research methods.

Peiró and McCullough are tackling renewable energy.

“I think it’s such a big field that’s so important, but I think it’s overlooked a little bit,” McCullough said. “It’s interesting to research this topic and see what can be accomplished or how things could be better addressed. We might not save the world, but there is still a lot of value in examining this subject in greater depth.”

Carter Delsorbo, a junior majoring in biology with a pre-medicine concentration, is working on the design of new photodynamic chemotherapeutic medications.

“If this drug works, chemotherapy will be a much less challenging experience for people who have been diagnosed with cancer,” Delsorbo said. “Patients will not experience the effects of chemotherapy nearly as much, and it could increase their chances for survivability. I’m enjoying my participation in this project, which could transform the care of cancer patients.”

Peiró views the program as a great opportunity to hone his skills and to use them to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

“We’re learning about the things we can do,” he said. “We are improving our abilities, and maybe we will be fortunate and find something that no one ever saw before. With research, you never know what you’re going to discover, but I am excited about all of the possibilities.”

McCullough recognizes her group is a trendsetter for the program and hopes the five researchers will inspire future students in the natural sciences department to know research might be an option for them. She said it can even serve as a recruiting tool for the university.

If he pursues a medical career, Delsorbo knows his experience with Tusculum’s research program will help him better appreciate the reasons it takes awhile for medicines to make their way through the development and approval process. But most of all, he sees long-term positive results for Tusculum now that it has initiated this program.

“This could evolve into something that could be the hallmark of the whole university,” Delsorbo said.

For more information, please watch the following video on Tusculum’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/6wHJcrfeNgg.

 

CONTACT: Jim Wozniak
Email: jwozniak@tusculum.edu
Phone: 423-636-0552